Flotation device



J 1,643,049 Sept. 20,1927. A. BLACK a FLOTATION DEVICE Filed Dec. 5, 1926 Patented Sept. 20, 1927.

UNITED STATES PATIENT, OFFICE.

ARCHIIBALD BLACK, 01? GARDEN CITY, NEW YORK.

FLO'I'ATION DEVICE.

Application filed December 3, 1926. Serial No. 152,428.

customary practice in constructing such de-.

vices is to provide a container of compressed 1 air under the control of a member of the crew of the aircraft. When it becomes necessary to inflate the flotation bags, this compressed air is fed from the high pressure container into the fabric bags and is held 2 therein by a check valve to prevent the bags from becoming deflated after the operation of inflation is completed. In some such installations, and for the purpose of decreasing the size of the compressed air tank necessary, a device is interposed between the air tank and the flotation bags and this device operates on the principle of an injector by drawing additional air from the atmosphere and forcin it into the bags along with the air from the tank.-

The use of tanks of compressed air in this we is usually undesirable as they are-subject to eakage and may therefore be found incapable of fully inflating the flotation gear at a critical time. Furthermore, it is not practicable to carry an air tank having sufficient capacity to allow more than one inflation as such a tank would be excessively heavy. Thus, if the air bags should happen to develop a slow leak, they could not be reinflated and the aircraft might sink before aid could be secured.

S In my invention I substitute for the customary compressed air tank a means whereby gaseous products of combustion may be conveyed into the flotation bag r such, for the purpose of their inflation. Inasmuch as these gaseous products of combustionhave an initial high temperature'upon generation which is too rest to permit injecting them directly into 516 flotation means, I interpose a cooling chamber or chambers for the gases between the combustion chamber and the flotation bag or such. I may also combine this cooling chamber or chambers with an injection device for drawing external air into the flotation system. In the application of my system I may use various well known meth: ods of producing gases by combustion. I

prefer, however, to utilize such a material as that commonly known as smokeless pow-- der as this material is conveniently available in commerce, is safe to handle and does not deteriorate appreciably if stored without being used for an extended period. Consequently, the inflation device might remain in the aircraft for a period of a few years without being recharged and yet be capable of rapid and eflicient operation in an emergency. To further improve the safe and convenient operation of my device, I provide a multiplicity of inflation charges, means for preventing accidental operation of the device, means for automatically igniting 'a charge upon operation of the device and means for limiting the internal pressure in each combustion chamber to prevent explosion thereof. I

In the accompanying drawings Fig. 1, is a side view of an airplane equipped with a flotation gear constructed according to my invention, while Fig.2, is an enlarged view of a portion of the same illustrating the arrangement of the installation. Fig. 3, is a vertical section through the gas generating device which is shown installed in Fig. 2, and Fig. 4, shows a section through the upper portion of the gas generator control and operating mechanism drawn on a considerably enlarged scale. Fig. 5, is a cross section through the generator control mechanism on the line A-A, in Fig. 4, looking in the directidn of the arrows, while Fig. 6, is a similar cross section on the line BB, and Fig. 7, is a cross section on the line C-C. Fig. 8, is a plan View of the device used to ignite the charges, a portion being shown cut away to expose the percussion cap. Fig. 9, is a side view of the ignition device shown in Fig. 8.

Fig. 10, is a vertical section through the center of the injector shown in Fig. 2, illustratr ing its interior arrangement and showing the self-closing flap valve used'to prevent escape of air and gases from the flotation bag. Fig. 11, is a. section through the air intake on the line DD, in Fig. 2, looking in the direction indicated b the arrows and with the door in the close position. Fig. 12, is a section similar to that shown in Fig. 11, but with. the door in the open position.

In Figs. 1, and 2, the airplane is provided with a flotation bag 1, on each side and in such position that the bags will sustain the machine upon the surface of the water when. they are inflated. The gases for inflation of bags 1, are supplied by a gas generator 2, or by two such, installed within control of the pilot or some other member of the crew of the airplane. Generator 2, is shown in Fig. 3, to contain charges 3, each containing a quantity of smokeless powder 4, a firing material 5, and an ignition device 6. Chambers 7, and 8, are provided to permit some expansion of the gases released by combustion oi" powder 4, and slots 9, 10, and 11, are provided in a control valve stem 12 to permit passage ol the gases from chamber '7, to chamber 8. I may also provide chamber 8, with a pressure gauge 13, to indicate the pressure therein. Valve stem 12, is rotated by a handle 14, and, as will be shown hereinafter, is provided with means for preventing its unintentional operation as well as with means for operating the ignition devices (3. To eliminate danger of explosion in event oi excessive pressure being generated within the apparatus during the combustion, 1 provide each chamber 7, with a safety valve 15, shown in lTig. 2, and arranged to discharge the gases outside of the body of the airplane when a predetermined maximum safe internal pressure is attained.

In Figs. 4, 5, 6, and 7, the means for preventing unintentional operation of valve stem 12 are shown. Handle 14, is mounted to move freely endwise in stem 12,- and is provided with pins 16, which engage the sides of a. slot 17, in stem 12, so that rotary movement of handle 14, is transmitted to stem 12. To prevent unintentional operation of the device, handle 14, is provided with a pin 18, adapted to move only within slots 19, in block 20, and slots 21, in block 22, while blocks 20, and 22, are held against rotation by ins 23. $lots l9, and 21, are sta gored wlth respect to each other but suihcient overlapping is provided to permit pin 18, to pass from one of the slots 19, to the adjacent slot 21, when handle 14, is moved endwise. lVith this arrangement handle 14, can be turned through a small angle at each rotary movement and the device is so proportioned that this angle is just sufiicient to operate one igniter 6, only. To operate the second igniter 6, it becomes necessary to first move handle 14, endwise and then to rotate it a further portion of a turn. To operate the third igniter 6, it becomes necessary to again move handle 14, endwise, this time in the opposite direction. Each successive movement brings one of the slots 9, 10, or 11, into alignment with its respective chamber 7, thus permitting escape of eas es the gases from chamber 7, to chamber 8, but preventing baclmvard liow of" hot gases from chamber 8, into the other chambers 7, which How would ignite an unburned charge of powder 4.

In Figs. 8, and 9, ignition device 6, is shown to consist of a percussion cap'24, adapted to be ignited by a striking point 25, actuated by a spring 26, when the device is operated. Normally, sprin 26, is held against operation by a toggle 27, mounted on a sliding rod 28, and engaging frame 29, oi igniter 6, in such manner as to hold spring 26, in compression. When. the device 1s 01- erated, the rotation of valve stem 12, causes a. notch 30, thereon to engage a trigger 31, termed on the toggle 2'2, and causes tog le 2?, to rotate to the position indicated y dotted lines 32, and thus releasing the restrainingeliort from spring 26, and permitting it to drive point 25, against percussion cap 24. The impact ignites cap 24, which ignites firing material 5, shown in Fig. 3, and which in turn ignites powder 4, causing the device to produce gases of combustion which flow from chamber l, through. the corresponding slot 9, 10, or 11, as the case may be, into chamber 8. From chamber 8, the gases flow into an injector 33, as shown in Figs. 2, and 10, through a nozzle 34. Injector 33, is formed on the Venturi principle and is arranged so that the suction set up by the flow of gases from nozzle 34, draws air from the atmosphere throu h a door 35, the operation of which will he described hereinafter. Thisexternal air drawn into injector 33, becomes mixed with the gases flowing from nozzle 34, and serves to reduce the temperature of these as well as to increase their volume. To further reduce the temperature of the gases, I provide radiating fins 36, on the outside of injector 33, for the purpose of radiating heat to the external atmosphere. The mixture of gases and air flowing through injector 33, passes through an opening 37, in flotation bag 1, and causes the said bag to become inflated.

Asthe powder 4, becomes consumed, the flow of gases and air through injector 33, gradually drops until they can no longer be forced into bag 1, against the internal pressure which has been created therein. When this condition is reached the gases and air tend to flow in a reverse direction from bag 1, through opening 87, to the external atmosphere, whereupon a flap valve 38, is drawn against openin 37, by the initial reverse flow of gases tierethrough and thus the opening 37, is closed to prevent further outflow of gases,

To prevent partial inflation of bag- 1, by the inflow of external airwhen such is not desired, I arrange door 35, so that it may be operated by amember of the crew,of the aircraft as shown in Figs. 11, and 12. N0rneeacao mally, door 35, remains in the closed posi ready described, door 35, is opened by means of a handie 39, to the position shown in Fig. 12, whereupon air may flow through it into injector 33.

In operation of my device, door 35, is

first opened by a member of the crew and handle 14, is then rotated to cause operation of the ignition device in the manner already described. The combustion of powder a, in one of the charges 3, then produces ases which flow through the generating an injecting mechanisms and are cooled and mixed with air drawn into the system from the at mosphere and then injectedinto the flotation bags in the manner described. If it should become desirable to reinflate the. bags for any reason whatsoever, handle 14, may be moved endwise and again rotated to bring a second charge 3, into use as described.

Although I have shown and described my invention as applied to an aircraft flotation gear, it will be obvious that it might be applied to equal advantage in other cases where it is desired to provide means for quickly expanding a container to float a boat, raft, life-belt, or other life-saving or other buoyant appliance,

Having thus described my invention, 1 claim: K

' 1. A flotation device comprising, combustion apparatus, a duct for conveying the gases produced by the combustion, and a container for receiving the said'gases and adapted to provide flotation upon water,-

2. A'flotation device comprising, combustion apparatus, a duct for conveying the gases producedby the combustion, a container for receiving the said gases and adapt-- ed to provide flotation upon water, and a safety valve to permit the escape of excess pressure from within the system.

3. A flotation device comprising, combustion apparatus, a duct for conveying the gases produced by the combustion, a container for receiving the said gases and ada ted to provide flotation upon water, an a safety valve communicating to the exterior of the device to permit the escape of excess pressure from within the system.

4. A-flotation device comprising, combustion apparatus, a duct for conveying the gases produced by the combustion, a. con- &

tainer for receiving the said gases and ada ted to provide flotation upon water, an a heat radiating chamber for the radiation of the heat of the gases.

5. A flotation device comprising, combustion apparatus, a duct for conveying the gases produced by the combustion, a container for receiving the said gases and adapted to provide flotation upon water, and means for reventing unintentional operation or the evice. 6. A flotationdevice comprising, combustion apparatus, a duct for conveying the gases produced by the combustion, a container for receiving the said gases and adapted to provide flotation upon water, and an injector for injecting atmospheric air with the gases of combustion into the container,

7 A. combustion device for the generation of gas pressure for expanding a flotation appliance, comprising a chamber for the gen-- eration of gases or combustion, a duct for conveying the .gases from the said chamber to the appliance, and a release valve to per-- mit escape of the gases from the chamber when a predetermined internal pressure is exceeded.

8. A combustion device for the generation of gas pressure for expanding a flotation appliance, comprising a chamber for the generation of gases of combustion, a 'duct'ior conveying the gases from the said chamber to the appliance, and a heat radiating chamber whereinthe excess heat of combustion is radiated to the external atmosphere.

9. A combustion device for the generation of gas pressure for expanding a flotation appliance, comprising a chamber for the generation of gases of combustion, a duct for conveying the gases from the said chamber to the appliance, and means for preventing unintentional operation of the device,

10. A combustion device for the generation of gas pressure, comprising a plurality of chambers containing pressure producing charges, a common compartment capable of communication with *said chambers, and means for igniting the charges in individual chambers and for selectively establishing communication between the common com- 

